UPDATE: Ljungberg ‘exploring options,’ may leave team

Now it looks even more likely that the Swedish international is on his way out of Seattle.

Ljungberg missed practice again Tuesday and coach Sigi Schmid confirmed that Ljungberg is “considering his options.”

“Ljungberg is still with the ankle but also, at this point, he is exploring options,” Schmid told reporters. “So we’ll see how things proceed in the next three, four, five days.”

The summer transfer window is open and the Sounders are able to bring players in, contributing to rumors that Ljungberg is ready to pack his bags and has avoided to pitch to nurse his ankle and prevent further injury.

“I don’t anticipate the roster staying completely as it is,” Hanauer said. “The transfer window opened two days ago and we’ve been working hard and will continue to work hard to make the team better. That certainly is likely to include … There are internal things we can do then there are roster moves and certainly roster moves are something that we’re working on.”

The team has been playing well in Ljungberg’s absence, but Schmid was reluctant to say the team is better without the long-time Arsenal star.

“Freddie is a great player and he brings energy onto the field,” Schmid said.

“Every time he plays on the field he plays with energy. For us as a team, you have to judge how we play with him or without him. I know I have my feelings and my judgments on that thing. But at the end of the day, our backs are against the wall and I think the guys know that. That helps you find some spirit and desire and sometimes when you hit a good streak somebody is not in the team. For example, (Brad) Evans is not in the team right now. We are hitting a good streak. Does that mean if he was on the field we would be better or would we be worse? It’s tough for me to say. But the group that has gone out there right now is playing with a lot of intensity and it’s really probably irrespective of who else is out with him.”